The NORM Project – Employee-driven Environmental Improvement and Organizational Learning
Funder: AFA Försäkring
Duration: 2025-2027
Partners: KTH, Chalmers, RISE, Dept. of Psychology, GU & AB Volvo
Why is the project being carried out?
The transition towards more sustainable and climate-friendly industrial operations requires more than new technological solutions. It also depends on making use of the knowledge, experience and commitment of employees.
In many companies, environmental work is primarily driven by specialists and support functions. The NORM project is based on the idea that environmental and improvement work should become an integral part of everyday operations. Operators, production teams and first-line managers need better opportunities to identify and implement improvements themselves.
Aim and Research Questions
The aim of the NORM project is to further develop and evaluate a network-based model for organizational learning and employee-driven environmental improvement. The goal is to create healthier and more climate-friendly workplaces where employees have opportunities to develop and actively contribute to continuous improvement.
The project builds on previous research and development work (the LOOP model), carried out between 2021 and 2026, with AB Volvo among the participating organizations.
The project addresses four main research questions:
- How can work practices and learning processes be designed to support employee-driven environmental improvement and a positive work environment?
- How does the introduction of the network-based model influence organizational learning and competence development?
- How does the model affect employees' work variety, work environment and motivation?
- How can a coaching approach strengthen the conditions for employee-driven environmental improvement?
Expected Outcomes
The project aims to deliver a further developed network-based model that helps organizations make better use of employees' knowledge and commitment in environmental and continuous improvement work.
An important outcome will be a practical methodology and supporting tools that companies can use to introduce and apply the model. In the longer term, the ambition is to contribute to healthier workplaces, improved working conditions and reduced sickness absence, while also strengthening companies' environmental and climate efforts.
The project will also contribute to new research knowledge through scientific and popular science publications.
